ANN RealTime Update, 09.08.11, 1121 ET: The FAA has refused further comment on this story and our attempts to interview staffers from AIR-200 have been politely turned away. Questions about the specifics of the grounding order and the reasons for its imposition remain unanswered.

ANN RealTime Update, 09.08.11, 1121 ET:
The FAA has refused further comment on this story and our attempts
to interview staffers from AIR-200 have been politely turned away.
Questions about the specifics of the grounding order and the
reasons for its imposition remain unanswered.
ANN
reported the first known 'grounding' of an LSA
manufacturer, by the FAA, last week when a memo produced by the
FAA's AIR-200 was forwarded to us shortly after it was
prepared. The August 30th Memo sent to "All
Manufacturing Inspection Offices, All Manufacturing
District/

Event Has Grown, But Faces Economic Pressures

The unofficial end of summer has passed, and the official
Autumnal Equinox isn't far behind, but the fly-in season has some
life remaining. Lee Bottom Flying Field in Hanover, IN has its 15th
Annual Wood, Fabric, & Tailwheels Fly-In scheduled for the
weekend the seasons officially change, September 23-25.

Dedication Saturday To Feature Live Webcasts At 1230 EDT

The National Park Service and the National Park Foundation, the
official charity of America's national parks, have announced that
President George W. Bush and Vice President Joe Biden will speak at
this Saturday's dedication ceremony of the Flight 93 National
Memorial in Shanksville, PA.

Photographs Show Tracks Made My Astronauts, Rovers

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) captured the sharpest
images ever taken from space of the Apollo 12, 14 and 17 landing
sites. Images show the twists and turns of the paths made when the
astronauts explored the lunar surface.

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Annual Losses To Airlines From Strikes Estimated At $1.2
Billion

Niagara Falls will host the 2011 Bird Strike North America
Conference September 12-15 at the Marriott Gateway on the Falls.
The event, organized by The Bird Strike Association of Canada and
The Bird Strike Committee USA, brings together aviation and
wildlife professionals from all over the world dedicated to the
understanding and prevention of bird strikes.

DOT IG Will Study, Issue Report In Spring 2012

Federal data shows a disturbing trend - Air traffic controller
operational errors resulting in a breakdown of separation minima
are up 81 percent between 2007 and 2010, from 1,040 to 1,887,
despite a ten percent decline in traffic. The Boston Globe reports
that for the Boston region, the increase is 114 percent.

Includes Subcontract To Design And Manufacture Four Additional
C-130J Simulators For USAF

CAE announced in a news release Tuesday that it has been awarded
a series of military contracts valued at nearly $101 million,
including a subcontract to design and manufacture four additional
C-130J simulators for the United States Air Force (USAF) as well as
contracts in Germany to provide support services for the German Air
Force's Eurofighter simulators and to upgrade Tornado flight
simulators.

Lockheed Martin/KAMAN Demonstrate Autonomous Resupply
Capabilities

A five-day Quick Reaction Assessment (QRA) for the U.S.
Navy’s Cargo Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) program has been
successfully completed by the Lockheed Martin-led unmanned K-MAX
team. “The autonomous flying K-MAX is designed to resupply
Marines on the battlefield and in remote locations,” said
Roger Il Grande, director of Airborne Systems at Lockheed Martin
Mission Systems & Sensors.

"Eyes On The Solar System" Combines Video Game Technology, NASA
Data

NASA is giving the public the power to journey through the solar
system using a new interactive Web-based tool. The "Eyes on the
Solar System" interface combines video game technology and NASA
data to create an environment for users to ride along with agency
spacecraft and explore the cosmos. Screen graphics and information
such as planet locations and spacecraft maneuvers use actual space
mission data.

Simulated-3-D Model Will Bring The Airliner To Prospective
Buyers

An virtual 737 has been introduced that will allow prospective
customers with a way to view and understand the aircraft without
standing next to one. Boeing's 737 Explained is a virtual model of
the Boeing 737 generated from thousands of high-resolution
photographs that create an immersive 3-D-like model.

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Flight Was Landing As Unidentified Man Pushed The 'On'
Button

A man on a Southwest flight arriving in El Paso, TX, may have
tried to get a bit of a jump on the "legal" use of his cell phone
as the plane taxied to the gate ... and reportedly switched it on
as the flight was landing Monday afternoon. The move got him
arrested.

Woman Equates TSA Patdown With 'Rape'

To say that advice columnist and blogger Amy Alkon was not happy
about the patdown search she received while clearing security at
KLAX on March 31st would be an understatement. In a posting
following the experience, she equated the search to being "raped"
by the agent who performed the patdown.

Versatile Engine Monitoring System Takes On
Turbine Tasks

Flightline Electronics introduced Auracle system some months
back... and the engine monitoring game got quite a boost in the
process, as the Auracle line worked heard and well to prove itself
the most advanced, reliable engine management system available
today for single and now twin-engine aircraft. The system offers
comprehensive engine and fuel situational awareness, delivered on a
stunning full-color glass panel display, with intuitive controls
and easily recognizable indicators that mimic familiar analog
gauges.

Pilot Registered Multiple Concerns About Fuel Remaining

Estimated fuel and actual are often, tragically, two different
things... and the following preliminary report from the NTSB,
following a tragic Air Methods EMS crash seems to be leading in
that direction. The only sure thing, fuel-wise, is to gas up when
there is a scintilla of doubt in your mind as to the true fuel
capacity available... a lesson that is reinforced way too many
times by tragedies like that described below...

ALPA, APA Urge Congress To Act As Soon As Possible

In separate venues, the leaders of the Allied Pilots Association
(APA) and the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA) urged
Congress to quickly pass a long-term FAA re-authorization bill. The
agency has been operating on a series of continuing resolutions
since 2007, and has not seen a funding increase since that
time.

Project Will Add 500 Feet To Main Runway, Improve
Approaches

Sussex County, Delaware has received a grant totally $723,900
from the FAA for the extension of the main runway at Sussex County
Airport (KGED) in Georgetown. U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris
Coons (both D-DE) announced the grant late last week. The money
will provide engineering and design funding for a project to extend
the runway 500 feet to 5,500 feet, improve approaches and lighting,
and bring it up to FAA standards.

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Change In Route Has Trip Tied Up In Red Tape

In a saga with undertones of "the best laid plans" ... an
'Around The World' attempt being undertaken by the manufactures of
the Sling 4, a four-place airplane born out of the South African
Sling LSA, have become bogged down in some red tape in ... Los
Angeles. The Airplane Factory, based in Johannesburg, South Africa,
is making the attempt to show off its latest airplane. After a long
flight from Hawaii, they arrived in southern California late last
week, and had planned to continue their journey Tuesday
morning.

Removing Shoes At Airport Security May Become A Random
Check

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano told a
gathering at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. Tuesday that mandatory
screening of shoes may become a thing of the past. But she did not
say when such a shift might occur. TSA Administrator John Pistole
hinted at a similar change at a separate event.

Apparently Attempted To Grab Helo Skid Before It Was In Place
For The Stunt

The NTSB's preliminary report in the accident which fatally
injured air show stuntman Todd Green suggests he attempted to reach
for the skid of the helicopter before it was in the correct
position to complete the stunt. Green lost his footing on the
Stearman biplane in the attempt to transfer between it and a
helicopter flying overhead during an air show at Selfridge Air
National Guard Base on August 21st.

"(T)hanks to the Federal Aviation Administration
funding, Sussex County Airport will be better equipped to
accommodate large aircraft able to draw new business and jobs to
the area." Source: Delaware Senator Chris Coons (D).